St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-20
STJOsEPz7s U05 PTTAL :

the spring of 1856, completed in the
spring of 1887, and occupied March l
the same year. This wing will accom-
modate about thirty patients. There
are seventy-fve patients being cared
for at present, comprising every nation
atty and religious belief. The iRstitu-
ton will average about eighty patients.
The
MAIN BUILDING
is a three-stOry stone structure with
large balconies running around at the
first and second stories. On the first
floor is the kitchen, parlOr, office and
chapel. The second floor is taken up
with the sisters apartments, the medi-
cal room and the patients dining room.
The third floor is a general ward for
ladies' and the attic ward for patients
affected with contagious diseases. The
first floor of the left wing contains ten
rooms and the second floor is used
as a general ward for male pa
tents. The basement serves the pur-
pose of a general store room. Each floor
of the right wing is fitted up with
neat and cheerful rooms with large
corridor running the entire length of
the building. where the patients can
walk and reach the balcony without.
Each wing is supplied with ladies' and
gents bath rooms, electric call bells
that communicate with all floors; also
with a first-clasS operating room pos
sessing all the necessary appliances.
The rooms are all large, well lighted
and hOmelike. Connected with each is
a small alcoye containing the bed. The
floors are covered with elegant rugs, and
the windows filled with fragrant flowers.
The price of rooms depends largely on
the location, the furnishings being much
the same in all. The prices range from
$40 to SIS per week, which includes care,
etc. Those who are too poor to pay for
occupying rooms are placed in the gen
eral wards. where medical attendance
is furnished free of charge, and Sc per
week charged for care and attendance.
Although the st. Joseph'S hospital is
conducted by Catholic sisters, the ques-
ton of religion is never raised as bar
to admittance, and the Protestant is as
welcome as the Catholic, the Jew as
welcome as the Gentle. Nor does rank,
wealth or station cut any figure
here. The poor, unfortunate fellow
brought to penury and deg
receives the same measure of kindly
treatment from these mfnistering angels
as does the millionaire, and many
miserable wretch who has entered that
institution. his mind almost dead to
every sense of human love, has been re-
claimed to noble manhood by the pow
erful influence eXerted by the very
presence of these noble women. While
visiting the hospital [ asked the mother
if there was not great deal of danger
to those sisters whose duty it was to at
tend the ward occupied by patients
with contagious diseases. She expressed
great surprise at such a question. and
said: 81 had not thought of that.
never heard a sister speak about the
danger TO herself" This remark and
the manner in which it was delivered,
impressed me then, if never had been
before, with the utter
LACK OF sELFIsHNESs
and the self-sacrificing disposition of
these good people. This institution is
self-supporting, not dollar in the way
of aid being furnished by the city, |
county or state. l was told by the !
mother that there are patients being /
brought to st. Joseph's hospital contin- |
ually without friends and without |
means who should be taken to the city |
and county hospital, where they right |
fully belong" However," said she, 1--WE |
care for them, knowing full well we |
never will receive a penny for our |
IOuDle. 1HlS is ceIJdlHly queer |
state of affairs. The proper thing for |
the state TO do would be to set aside a |
certain annual appropriation for this |
hospital, or at least the county should |
be willing to pay the expenses of those |
sent to st. Joseph's hospital who really !
belong to the county hospital. Patients |
are free to select their own ministers |
and their own doctors. However, those |
in the wards who get medical treatment |
gratis are treated by some of the visit
ing corps of physicians, which is COM
posed of the following doctors: Hand, !
Wheaton, Smith, Flagg, Abbott and |
Murphy. The opinions of some of |
these gentlemen, who have become
thoroughly acquainted with this insti- |
tuition and its workings through many |
years of professional experience, as to |
the merits of the hospital, will be read |
with great interest, especially so, as I
none of them are possessed of the same
religious denomination as the sisters.
THEIR OPINIONS,
DR.. Hand, spoken to in the matter, I
said: II have been connected with the
faculty of st. Joseph's hospital during
period of twenty years. / consider it a
very excellent Institution, and one that |
will compare fayorably with others that
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